Uppingham has failed in its bid to win a slice of the £675m Future High Street Fund.

Rutland County Council put forward the town's application for the Government fund in March - seeking £5.2m to improve the town's attractiveness to public and private sector investment through a range of potential initiatives.

However, the shortlist of 50 bidders going through to phase two of the process has now been revealed - and Uppingham has not made the cut.

Had it been successful, Uppingham intended spending the £5.2m on a number of potential projects including developing a community hub at the Town Hall, remodelling the A6003 from its junction with Spring Back Way, creating a new car park and showground at Tod's Piece and investing in a 'virtual high street'.

Announcing that Rutland County Council was submitting the bid, Rutland County Council Leader Councillor Oliver Hemsley said in March that the local authority had been 'put in a disappointing and difficult position' by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by not being able to put forward both Uppingham and Oakham for the funding.

He said both towns 'developed strong applications', but to ensure the strongest case was submitted the council took advice from an independent arbitrator who reviewed both bids and recommended that Uppingham had the most viable proposal.

The Future High Street Fund, launched late last year, is designed to help towns and cities across the country support long-term strategies for the improvement of their high streets and town centres.